Twisting spindle tension device



16, 1 R. H. CARTER ETAL TWISTING SPINDLE TENSION DEVICE F iled May 20, 1949 INVENTORS RALPH H 3BR BR CHFSDwOK B. K INGSB URY ATTORNEY- Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v TWISTING SPINDLE TENSION DEVICE Ralph H. Carter, Johnson City, and Chadwick B. Kingsbury, Elizabethton, Tenn., assignors to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 20, 1949, Serial N 0. 94,376

6 Claims. (Ci. 242-150) This invention relates to twisting spindles and more particularly spindles of the kind adapted to impart two twists to the yarn or thread undergoing twisting, for each revolution of the spindle.

The invention is a carrying forward and further development of the tensioning device used on the type of double twist spindle disclosed in the co-pending application of Chadwick B. Kingsbury, Serial No. 793,003, filed December 20, 1947, now Patent No. 2,478,926 dated January 3, 1950.

In spindles of this type, yarn, withdrawn overend from a supply package, relatively stationary with respect to a rotating hollow spindle, passes through the tensioning device, down through the hollow spindle, emerges from a port in the spindle rotor, and then passes outwardly and upwardly around the package in the form of a so-called free balloon," and thence to a suitable take-up device.

In the operation of such twisting spindles proper tension must be applied to the yarn at suitable points in its path of travel. In the case of spindles of the type disclosed in the aforesaid application, a yarn-tensioning system is incorporated in the upper portion of the spindle assembly. The yarn passes between the surface of a light-weight freely movable disk and the cooperating surface of its stationary supporting member, and is subjected to tension by virtue of the pressure exerted by the disk thereon. The disk is made of magnetically responsive material and the amount of pressure exerted thereby, in addition to that produced by its own weight, is controlled by a magnet disposed interiorly of the spindle assembly and immediately below the memher. the pull of the magnet on the disk being adjusted by suitably spacing the magnet therefrom as by inserting non-magnetic shims.

In the tensioning device described in'the aforesaid copending application, the disk must be entirely removed during the threading-up of the spindle in order to permit passage of the threading-up wire through the thread passage hole in the lower member. The disk must then be manually replaced in its operating position. This operation generally requires the use of one hand for removing the disk and the other hand for inserting the threading-up wire. During this operation the disks are often inadvertently dropped and become lost or damaged. .Also, but to a lesser extent, the disks are sometimes thrown off the spindle by the action of the thread while the spindle is in operation.

It is an object of the present invention to incorporate the disk as a non-removable part of the tensioning mechanism by confining it loosely in a sleeve-like cage.

A further object is to provide means whereby the disk can be temporarily tilted by the threadingup wire sufliciently to permit its passage without necessitating complete removal of the disk from the assembly.

Another object is to provide means for insuring that the disk automatically resumes its proper operating position upon withdrawal of the threading-up wire.

A still further object is to provide means for effecting automatic and momentary release of tension during the operation of the spindle in the event of jerks or plucks occurring as the thread leaves the supply package.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be manifest from the following detaied description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a double twist spindle showing the cage in its upper or threading-up position, with the disk tilted and the threading-up wire in threading-up position.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the tensioning assembly showing the cage and disk in running or operating position.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on enlarged scale of the top portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a disassembled cross sectional view showing the sleeve-like cage, disk, and the lower tensioning member upon which the disk reposes during operation.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral I generally disignates a double twist spindle of the type disclosed in the copending application aforesaid, the same being pivotally carried by an arm 2. The spindle is driven by contact of belt 3 with whorl 4, an idler pulley 5 being used to position the belt 3. A brake device 6 is diagrammatically indicated and is used for stopping the rotation of the spindle. Yarn, drawn from a, package 1 is to be pulled down through the hollow center of the spindle and out through a port in the rotor 8. This is effected by passing a threading-up wire, preferably of coil-spring type 9, through a port in the rotor 8, thence upwardly through the axial thread passage in the spindle, through the hole 23 inthe insert it of the lower tensioning member l'l, past the tension disk l0, through the opening in the top of the cage ll,

until the wire projects slightly above the top of the cage. 1

The thread or yarn l2 from the package I is then looped around or attached to the threading-up wire 9 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The

in Figs. 1 and 3. The cage in which is arranged to slide freely axially of the tensioning assembly, in turn is raised by the disk as the latter is being tilted by the threading-up wire, the upward movement of the cage being limited by means of inwardly-bent portions I! of the lower extremity ll of the cage. As shown, the cage is slotted laterally as at I! for convenience in assembly. The top opening of the cage H is circular and of slightly less diameter than the round disk I so as to permit the disk to protrude partly, in tilted position, while preventing its complete emergence, as shown in Fig. 3.

The upward movement of the cage III is restricted by the engagement of the inwardly bent sections IS with the lower shoulder 24 of the tensioning member I! so that the disk cannot assume a completely vertical position with respect to its normal operating position. Thus the disk I. cannot be inadvertently turned over, and by action of gravity the cage and disk automatically drop back to normal operating position when the threading-up wire 9 is removed.

The disk is provided with a centrally located stem 29 which may be formed integrally out of the body and which is somewhat smaller in diameter than the cooperating hole 23 in insert I8, the countour of the stem being rounded and serving to locate the disk during its return, after threading-up, to operating position and to maintain its position during normal operation. The stem also serves to prevent the disk making radial contact between its edge 26 and the inside surface of sleeve 1 I.

A shoulder 16 on cage H is provided for longitudinally spacing the cage properly in relation to the disk when the latter is in operating position and thus allow the disk to be free to respond to slight variations in the yarn and also to allow the disk to perform its nutational functions, said nutational functions being described in the aforesaid copending application. The cage, when in lower or operating position (Fig. 2), confines the disk entirely in its operating position. While a slidably disposed cage is preferred, a cage permanently fixed in its extended position could be used. Also, if suitable threading-up means were available, the cage could be fixed in its down or operating position.

Automatic release of tension is accomplished by virtue of the S-shaped path which the thread pursues'in its passage through the assembly, more particularly as follows: The thread l2 asses from the package 1 over lip 25 of cage I l, thence around the rounded edge 26 of disk I, approaching both members throughout an arc of 360, thence between the tension surfaces of disk I0 and insert II and downwardly through hole 22 in insert it. It is apparent that increased tension tends to cause the thread 12 to assume a more direct path through the assembly which in turn causes disk I. to be lifted from insert l8, thus releasing the pressure on thread l2 at point 21 (Fig. 2). It is also apparent from the foregoing that the thread continually wipes thelip of the sleeve as well as the .tensioning surfaces, in the manner described in the aforesaid co-pending application.

I in providing a hard, wear-resistant surface on the member l1 against which the disk ll bears. In

the preferred embodiment the member I! is constituted of non-magnetic material such as a suitable stainless steel with a wafer-like insert ll of glass, ceramic, or other hard wear-resistant material having non-magnetic properties. A preferred material suitable for constituting the wafer is the ceramic composition described in U. 8. Patent No. 2,214,703.

The purpose of this insert is to prevent scratching or otherwise marring of the aperture through which the thread passes and which passage may become scratched by any burr present on the threading-up wire and cause damage to the thread. The insert II is retained in a recess in the member I! as by cementing or otherwise.

The arrangement of the magnet and the means for adjusting its pull on the disk constitute no part of the present invention, being adequately described in the aforesaid oopending application. However, by way of brief explanation, reference is directed to Fig. 2, where ll designates the magnet, It the disk attracted by the magnet and 20 the shims used for adjusting the pull of the magnet on the disk, a suitable bushing 2| being provided for guiding the threading-up wire through the aperture in the member II. A spring 22 serves to hold the magnet in position. A recess or socket.

28 is provided in member II for insertion of a spanner wrench or the like during assembly. Modification of this invention will be readily recognized in the art and it is desired to include all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a twisting spindle including a device for tensioning thread comprising, in combination, a

fiat surface having a thread opening therein, a

round disk having a short stem projecting into said opening and fitting loosely therein and having a marginal flange extending away from said flat surface, said disk and said surface normally lying in contact but being susceptible of relative mutation during passage of thread therebetween and through the opening beside said stem, and a cage confining said disk while permitting its nutational tension-exerting movement, said cage having an uninterrupted circualr opening of sufilcient diameter to permit tilting and partial emergence of said disk therefrom but of insufficient diameter to allow complete removal of said disk and insufllcent vertical depth to permit the turning over of said disk in said cage, said opening in said cage permitting unhindered approach of the thread to said disk throughout an arc of 360.

2. In a twisting spindle including a device for tensioning thread comprising, in combination, a flat surface having a thread opening therein, a circular disk having a short stem projecting loosely into said opening and having a marginal flange extending awayfrom said flat surface, said disk and said surface normally lying in contact but being susceptible of relative nutation during passage of thread therebetween said thdough the opening beside said stem and a cage for confining said disk while permitting its nutational tension-exerting movement but limiting other movement thereof beyond a predetermined extent, said cage having an uninterrupted circular opening of a diameter less than the diameter of said disk for preventing complete removal of said disk from said cage and insufficient vertical depth to permit the turning over A still further feature of the invention resides 15 of said disk in cage.

3. In a twisting spindle including a device for tensioning thread comprising, in combination, a flat surface having a thread opening therein, a round disk having a short stem projecting into said opening and fitting loosely therein and having a marginal flange extending away from said flat surface, said disk and said surface normally lying in contact but being susceptible of relative nutation during passage of thread therebetween and through the aperture beside said stem, and a cage for confining said disk, said cage comprising a sleeve-like portion movable axially of said thread opening to maximum and minimum predetermined positions and adapted when in the minimum position to permit the disk to exert its nutational tension-exerting movement and having an uninterrupted circular opening of sufficient diameter to permit tilting and partial emergence of said disk from said cage when said cage is in maximum position but of insufficient diameter to permit complete removal thereof, the opening in said cage permitting unhindered approach of the thread to said disk throughout an arc of 360 and the maximum vertical movement of said cage being limited to prevent turning over of said disk, the space defined by said cage when in maximum position and the contour of said disk being adapted to insure return of said disk to normal operating position upon return of said cage to its minimum position.

4. In a twisting spindle of the type wherein a tension-exerting body constituted as a disk and having a downwardly directed stem reposes on a surface in said spindle with the stem extending loosely into an axial opening in said spindle through which thread passes and wherein said disk performs a nutational movement while exerting tension on said thread, the improvement that comprises: providing a sleeve-like cage about said disk having an uninterrupted circular opening of less diameter than said disk and movable axially of said thread opening to maximum and minimum predetermined positions and adapted when in the minimum position to permit the disk to exert its nutational tension-exerting movement and adapted when in the maximum position to permit partial emergence of said disk through the opening in said cage sumciently to permit passage of a threading-up tool through said opening and past said disk, said opening being of insufllcient diameter to permit complete removal of said disk from said cage and the maximum vertical movement of said cage being limited to prevent turning over of said disk in said cage, the space defined by said cage when in maximum position and the contour of said disk being such as to cause said disk automatically to resume its normal operating position upon removal of said threading-up tool, the opening in said cage being disposed to permit unhindered approach of the thread to said disk throughout an arc of 360.

5. In a twisting spindle of the type wherein a round tension-exerting body constituted as a disk and having a downwardly directed stem reposes on a fiat surface in said spindle with the stem extending loosely into an axial opening in said spindle through which the thread passes and wherein said disk performs a nutational movement while exerting tension on said thread, the improvement that comprises: providing a sleeve-like cage about said disk having an uninterrupted circular opening of less diameter than said disk and movable axially of said thread opening to maximum and minimum predetermined positions and adapted when in the minimum position to permit the disk to exert its nutational tension exerting movement and adapted when in the maximum position to permit partial emergence of said disk through the opening in said cage sufficiently to permit passage of a threading-up tool through said opening and past said disk, said opening being of insufficient diameter to permit complete removal of said disk from said cage and the maximum vertical movement of said cage being limited to prevent turning over of said disk in said cage, the opening in said cage being disposed to permit unhindered approach of the thread to said disk'throughout an arc of 360.

6. In a twisting spindle of the type wherein a round tension-exerting body constituted as a disk and having a downwardly directed stem reposes on a fiat surface in said spindle with the stem extending loosely into an axial opening in said spindle through which thread passes and wherein said disk performs a nutational movement while exerting tension on said thread, the improvement that comprises: providing a confining cage about said disk adapted to permit the nutational tension-exerting action of said disk and raising of said disk from its position of repose on said spindle to a position permitting passage of a threading-up tool through said opening but preventing complete removal of said disk from said spindle and the turning over of said disk within said cage, said cage having an uninterrupted circular opening permitting unhindered approach of the thread to said disk throughout an arc of 360.

RALPH H. CARTER. CHADWICK B. KINGSBURY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,373,513 Stevenson Apr. 10, 1945 2,478,926 Kingsbury Aug. 16, 1949 

